Tennessee Higher Education Commission director Richard Rhoda told Gov. Bill Haslam yesterday that a hike of as much as 3 percent was being recommended for community colleges and up to 6 percent for universities.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the increases at its meeting later this week.

The commission was among the last of several state departments that presented budgets to the governor.

Despite improving state revenues, the Republican governor has asked state departments to develop plans for a 5 percent spending cut as a fallback.